Interesting Woodworking Link

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Who are “Mr. Top” and “Mr. Bottom” or their infamous competitors “Mr. Left” and “Mr. Right” found lightly penciled in an inconspicuous place on a period piece of furniture? What about the equally important, however more rare, “Mr. Inside”? Are they long lost cabinetmakers of old? Actually, as you already know, these penciled notes are historic reminders of the importance of a good marking system when building furniture.

One of the most useful adjuncts to your layout tools is a good marking system. The key benefits to a good marking system are keeping your project parts organized and oriented from start to final fit and finish. Every woodworker develops a personal method to mark project parts. Central to any marking system is the cabinetmakers triangle keeping parts orientated top & bottom, left & right, and direction of outward facing surfaces.

Adrian C. van Draanen mentions in his Fine Woodworking article, Triangle Marking (FWW #8), that “The core of the idea is that the triangle is an isosceles triangle and it must point up, or away, from you, and each piece of wood must have two lines of the triangle on it.”

Philip Lowe’s marking system, documented in his Fine Woodworking article Keep Track of Your Progress with Squiggles and Lines (FWW #149). Philip’s system starts with stock preparation, the beginning of the building process, and ends with the final and most important mark . . . the maker’s mark or signature.

UPDATE (11-28-08)This is a very cool idea of Chris Gochnour's posted from Chuck:"I had a class by Chris Gochnour and he also places different color cabinetmaker's triangle on the outside of each leg by using color pencils. That way at a quick glance you can tell where the leg belongs. A single color triangle actually covers both legs on each side. Another words, say you're using a light blue color triangle on the left side, it's bottom left side would be on the back leg and the and the right corner would be the on the front leg."

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Dave,

I had a class by Chris Gochnour and he also places different color cabinetmaker's triangle on the outside of each leg by using color pencils. That way at a quick glance you can tell where the leg belongs.

Yea, it was great meeting up with Neil. He is a fun guy to be around and talk to about a lot of different subjects, as well as have some good laughs.

I don't mind if mentioned it in an update, please reference that it is Chris's idea. A single color triangle actually covers both legs on each side. Another words, say your using a light blue color triangle on the left side, it's bottom left side would be on the back leg and the and the right corner would be the on the front leg.